MADISON, Wis. -- With three players in double-digits and a strong defensive presence, the Wisconsin women's basketball team defeated Boston College, 58-50, Wednesday night at the Kohl Center in the 2011 Big Ten/ACC Challenge game. Wisconsin (3-5) picks up its third Big Ten/ACC Challenge win, improving to 3-2 in the series, while the Eagles (2-3) fall to 2-2 in the annual series.

Fast Facts

• Gorman went 3-5 from 3-point range

• Badgers held the Eagles to just 22 first-half points

• UW scored seven 3-pointers, led by Wurtz's four

"We want to win this challenge," head coach Bobbie Kelsey said. "The ACC has kind of dominated us overall, but we did our part tonight and now we need everybody else to do their part. It's a good bragging thing, it's in good recruiting to say you beat the ACC schools and that's a great conference for women's basketball. It's only going to help our game to see the ACC and Big Ten go at it."

Wisconsin opened the game with a 9-2 run, capped off by a 3-pointer by Taylor Wurtz at 16:30. Four straight points by Boston College brought the game within three, 9-6, at 12:18, but a layup by Ashley Thomas at 12:01 stopped the run. The Eagles challenged UW's lead again at 9:46 when Kerri Shields hit a jumper to bring BC within one, 13-12. Boston College claimed its only lead of the night, 15-13, 37 seconds later on a 3-pointer by Shayra Brown.

A 3-pointer by Wurtz at 8:42 was the start of a 14-7 UW run to close out the first half, 30-22. Boston College's 22 points tied an opponent season-low for first half points and would prove to be the key to the ball game.

Anya Covington opened up the second half with a jumper at 19:48 to put UW up 32-22 but the Eagles began working their way back. Deidra Smith hit the first of two free throws at 16:59 to bring Boston College within three, 32-29.

Wurtz hit her third 3-pointer of the night at 15:31 to give UW a nine-point lead and the Badgers never looked back. Wisconsin and Boston College went shot-for-shot in the final 15 minutes with the Eagles outscoring the Badgers, 21-20, proving the importance of UW's eight-point halftime lead.

Wurtz led the Badgers with 19 points, recording her eighth consecutive double-digit scoring performance. Covington added 13 points with Ashley Thomas chipping in 10. Lacia Gorman made her presence known, going 3-of-5 from 3-point range to record a career-high nine points in a career-best 21 minutes.

The Badgers were 21-of-48 (43.8 percent) from the field and 7-of-19 (36.8 percent) from 3-point range. Boston College finished the night 19-of-44 (43.2 percent) from field goal range and 3-of-15 (20.0 percent) beyond the arc. Both teams made nine free throws, with UW shooting 81.8 percent (9-of-11), but Boston College shot just 64.3 percent (9-of-14).

Wisconsin dished off 14 assists in the game, led by four from senior Jade Davis.

Wisconsin continues action at the Kohl Center on Monday, Dec. 5 when it hosts Saint Louis at 7 p.m.